anyone load 450 bushmaster?

[OFFGRID]

ive never loaded a straight wall case. seems i will need to load 450 bushmaster soon. i checked on dies and see that alot of sets come with 4. theres an expander?


what do i need to know before getting started?

 

[N555]

What were you going to do with them?
What bullets were you going to load?

 

[Lennyjoe]

I do. I like to slightly expand the case mouth for jacketed bullets to ease seating, slightly more for lead. Get the RCBS case wax for sizing instead of Hornady 1 Shot.

 

[OFFGRID]

What were you going to do with them?
What bullets were you going to load?

fire them from a break down shotgun with iron sights and an 18in barrel adapter. mainly plinking i guess but if it shoots ok i might take it out for whitetail.

really i just thought the adapter was cool so i bpught it on impulse..... then i noticed the price of the rounds. lol


i wonder if other 45 caliber bullets would work as well. seems it would be cheaper that way

 

[OFFGRID]

I do. I like to slightly expand the case mouth for jacketed bullets to ease seating, slightly more for lead. Get the RCBS case wax for sizing instead of Hornady 1 Shot.

so you full length size, expand, fill and then seat?

 

[Lennyjoe]

Correct. I also use a Factory Crimp die to bring case mouth back to proper size. I do not use the crimp feature of the bullet seating die as I prefer to do that separately.

 

[Demi-human]

The Bushmaster is loaded as any pistol case would be.
Full length size, expand, charge and seat, then crimp or de-flare. Use caution when removing the bullet seating flare, this case headspaces on the mouth, so too much crimp can cause headspace issues.
It uses bullets at .451-.452, so any 45 caliber pistol bullet will fit, but may not hold together at rifle speeds.
H-110 is the juice, and Lil’ Gun is turbo.
I use magnum small rifle primers as it’s a fairly large case to ignite.

Advanced loading practices use a modified Lee Factory crimp die to produce “stab -crimping” in the walls of the case to crimp hunting bullets in the proper location to engage their cannelure, while remaining at magazine length.
This won’t matter to your single shot, but you may want a better purchase on the bullet for improved ignition characteristics, as the short pistol bullets don’t give a lot of resistance to primer pressure movement.

I hope you enjoy the adapter!

 

[MEHavey]

^^^ THIS ^^^

See also
https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sh...-and-Die-Set&p=5533796&viewfull=1#post5533796
Note the Lee FCD is used (one of the few cartridges I use it on), but only ~1/2 turn ("55%") past first contact to effectively de-flare the mouth

45-70 & 450 Bushmaster Cast Molds and Die Set

I've got a Ruger American in 450 Bushmaster coming and will be ordering an 1895 Trapper when I can find one at a decent price. Both of these guns will be used in thick brush for hunting. I need recommendations for boolit casting molds and die set. Thanks in advance.

castboolits.gunloads.com

 

[Lennyjoe]

It uses bullets at .451-.452, so any 45 caliber pistol bullet will fit, but may not hold together at rifle speeds.
H-110 is the juice, and Lil’ Gun is turbo.

This is where you’d select a higher quality bullet if you’re using the .450 Bushmaster (or a .350 Legend) for hunting.

 

[Demi-human]

This is where you’d select a higher quality bullet if you’re using the .450 Bushmaster (or a .350 Legend) for hunting.

Absolutely. And with the proliferation of the Bushmaster, through straight-wall case hunting regulations and the appreciation of the AR, there are a myriad well constructed hollow point bullets that have come to market.
I find the Hornady 250 & 300 hollow points to be wonderful.
The Hornady FXT has been reported to be a bit hard for the velocities, but I’ve never seen anything react to a 45 caliber hole in it with pleasure.
I find the Speer JSPs to be very soft at less than 150 yards. Still glad I found them though.


Nothing says, “I hate opossums and want them dead.” , like a 185 grain hollow point from a fourteen twist barrel, going twice the speed of sound at thirty feet.
(Wear a rain suit…)

Nearly my favorite rifle.

 

[CraigC]

No different than loading the .45ACP with steel dies. No carbide for the .450, that I'm aware of. I need to get back to finding a subsonic that shoots as well as the Hornady factory stuff. One ragged hole.

Nothing says, “I hate opossums and want them dead.” , like a 185 grain hollow point from a fourteen twist barrel, going twice the speed of sound at thirty feet.
(Wear a rain suit…)

Nearly my favorite rifle.

Yeah, that'll do it! Instantly turn armadillos into salad bowls.

 

[BreechFace]

The 250gr Hornady FTX expands great in game.
There have been reports of it losing its jacket. My experience has been great with the bullet and the 450BM on whitetail with the 3 I’ve shot. I’ve only recovered the bullet below and it hit a heavily quartering doe destroying the front shoulder traversing diagonally and dislodging the rear offside quarter and got stuck in the hide.

It expanded to .723” and retained 215gr.

 

[BreechFace]

The responses you’ve received about reloading 450BM has been good.

The Hornady Black 250gr FTX is really great ammo, very accurate in all accounts I’ve seen including the two rifles I have fired it through both are MOA or just under. It is my go to ammo to use and save the brass for reloading.

 

[mcb]

Barnes 275gr TSX is awesome in 450 Bushmaster, expensive, but awesome.

 

[N555]

fire them from a break down shotgun with iron sights and an 18in barrel adapter. mainly plinking i guess but if it shoots ok i might take it out for whitetail.

really i just thought the adapter was cool so i bpught it on impulse..... then i noticed the price of the rounds. lol


i wonder if other 45 caliber bullets would work as well. seems it would be cheaper that way

Wow those are very important point.
So COAL is irrelevant for you, no worry about it cycling in an auto, or lead bullet and lead bullet lube clogging up a gas system, no silencer.
You can do anything you want with yours.

Well the main thing to know is it looks like 450bm uses "45 pistol/revolver bullets", .451 through .454 inch diameter, recommend size being .452 inch.
I found little difference between 45acp 230gr FMJ and hollow points at 2,200fps.

 

[MEHavey]

So COAL is irrelevant for you

It headspaces on the mouth, and throat dimensions determine shank exposure -- so the OP needs
to take care that case length is monitored *and* bullet seating/OAL accommodates a "plunk test."